If it’s time to replace your existing water heater or if you are building a new home, talk to a good plumbing contractor who handles water heater installation and repair about whether a standard tank-type water heater or a tankless water heater would be the best choice for your situation.
Tank-type water heaters have been the standard for residential applications for decades, but in the last ten years or so tankless or “on-demand” water heater have become a popular choice for a water heating system. The allure of tankless water heaters include lower energy costs and an endless supply of hot water. In addition, tankless water heaters take up less space than standard water heaters.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both types of water heaters to consider before choosing a system. The initial outlay for a tank-type water heater is much less than for a tankless water heating system. In addition, modern tank-type water heaters are more efficient than those produced ten years ago which reduces the difference in energy usage between the two types of water heaters.
Tankless water heaters are more efficient and use less energy because, unlike standard water heaters, they do not constantly keep a tank of water hot. They only heat water as it is needed. However, with an electric tankless water heater, some of the cost savings can be lost if hot water is used during peak demand times and the utility company charges a demand premium. This is not a concern for natural gas or propane tankless water heaters.
Also, a tankless water heater produces endless hot water only as long as the flow rate is not exceeded. If the tankless water heater is undersized, then using too much hot water such as doing laundry while taking a shower or two showers running at the same time can be a problem.
The allure of unlimited hot water and the thought of saving energy on water heating costs have led many homeowners to consider installing a tankless water heater to replace their conventional storage type water heater. Tankless water heaters can be a great choice for many applications, but they are not a “no-brainer” type of purchase especially if you are considering an electric tankless water heater. There are some disadvantages to consider before you take the plunge on a tankless water heater installation.
A storage type water heater wastes energy by continuously keeping a tank of water hot, even when there is no demand for hot water. Tankless water heaters (also called “on-demand” water heaters) save energy by only heating water when it is needed. Since they heat water on demand, they can continuously supply hot water and will not run out like a storage type water heater.
However, if you are considering an electric tankless water heater, you may not see any cost savings on your energy bill and may even spend more on electric energy for water heating. The reason is that electric tankless water heaters use a lot of electricity when hot water is needed which is often during peak usage periods such as during the day when people are bathing or doing laundry.
Some utility companies charge higher rates for electricity usage during high demand periods. You may end up using less electricity with the tankless water heater, but paying higher rates for electricity which would wipe out any energy cost savings.
In addition, because they use large amounts of electricity when they are heating water, installing an electric tankless water heater may require upgrading the electrical wiring in your home. Your plumbing professional can help you decide if an electric tankless water heater is good choice for your home.
A clogged shower drain can be a major inconvenience, especially if it happens when you are trying to get ready to go to work. Shower drain clog pose a special challenge for homeowners because unlike sink drains, the trap is not readily accessible. Most people just call a plumber which is a great idea, but before you pay for a service call, there is a simple and safe technique you can try that may get that clog cleared.
Most shower drain clogs are the result of hair build up combined with soap scum, dirt, and other debris. Often this clog is caught in the trap a foot or less from the drain. If you can remove this clog, your drain will flow freely again.
Start by removing the metal grate over the drain. This is usually held in place with two screws. Be careful not to drop the screws down the drain. Remove any hair caught on the grate and set it aside. Next, straighten out a wire coat hanger and use a pair of pliers to bend a small (about an inch) hook in the end. Put the hook end into the as far as it will go without forcing it.
Wiggle the coat hanger around and give it a few turns to see if the hook will snag on any hair or other debris. Pull the hanger out and remove any clumps of hair. Repeat until no more hair is caught on the hanger.
If the drain is still clogged, it is probably best to call a good plumber and let then handle the drain cleaning.
A clogged sink drain can be a major inconvenience, but at least the trap and the first few feet of drain line are usually accessible under the sink or in the cabinet. Most handy homeowners have a good chance of successfully clearing clogs in these areas.
Tub and shower drains are another matter entirely. The trap is usually not accessible, and even if it is the trap is not easily removed by hand like most sink drain traps. The result is that a clog in a tub or shower drain usually means a call to the plumber to clear the clogged drain.
One way to minimize these calls and save yourself a little money is to keep hair out of these drains as much as possible. Hair is easily the most common cause of tub and shower drain clogs. Hair catches on the stopper, the grate, and any little imperfection in the drain. It then starts collecting more hair, soap scum, dirt and debris and before you know it a clog has formed. Less hair in the drain equals fewer clogs.
Your local home improvement store carries a selection of hair catching strainers in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit almost any type or size of drain. These are plastic or metal devices that are easily removable for cleaning which is convenient because you will need to clean it often. Whenever hair accumulates on the strainer, take it out and clean the hair out of it.
By catching and disposing of hair before it has a chance to reach your drain, you will be able to prevent most tub or shower drain clogs and keep more money in your pocket.
If your home has a basement that floods, a sump pump is often the most effective way of keeping it dry. Sump pumps are usually more effective than barrier type waterproofing systems. Waterproofing systems are designed to keep the water from entering your basement through cracks in the walls, but they cannot prevent water from finding its way under the wall and entering your basement at the junction of the floor and wall, through a drain in the floor, or through a crack or other defect in the floor.
Additionally, waterproofing systems are most effective at keeping out water runoff from rain or melting snow. If your home is in an area where the water table rises above the level of your basement floor, your best bet for keeping the basement dry is a sump pump.
Sump pumps are installed in a well in your basement floor that collects water before it intrudes into your basement. The well can collect rainwater runoff as well as water from rising ground water. When the water level in the well reaches a certain height, a float switch is activated and the water is pumped safely away from your home.
Sump pumps can be purchased at your local home improvement store, but for a truly effective system you should have your sump pump installed by an experienced plumbing contractor. Proper design and installation of the sump pump system is critical for effective operation. A good plumbing contractor can help you select the right size sump pump system for your home.
If your sink drain is clogged, you may be able to clear the clog with few simple tools and about an hour of effort. If you still can’t clear the clog, no harm done other than spending about an hour of your time trying. Then you can call the plumber and relax while they handle the drain cleaning.
First, here are a couple of don’ts: Don’t try to clear the clog by pouring caustic chemicals down the drain. If you already have, stop now and call a plumber. You don’t want to try any of these clog clearing techniques on a sink full of hazardous chemicals. Also, don’t try to clear the clog using compressed air or a pressure washer. You will probably make a big mess and you can damage the pipes and end up needing a very expensive repair.
Now, to clear the clog start by removing the P trap under the sink. This is the P shaped pipe attached to the sink drain. Put a bucket under the trap and carefully remove the slip nuts with a pair of pliers. If the clog is in the trap, clean it out and put it back together. If not, you can either call it a day and let your plumber take care of it, or you can try using a plumber’s snake to clear the pipe. Plumber’s snakes for home use are available at your home improvement center.
Leave the P trap off and feed the plumber’s snake into the drain pipe. Continue feeding and cranking the snake until it stops. Then, tighten the set screw, apply some pressure and continue cranking until you feel the obstruction give way. Carefully remove the snake, cleaning it as you go.
Reassemble the P trap and run hot water through the drain to flush away loose debris.
If the water flow coming out of your faucets or showerheads doesn’t seem to be as strong as it once was, you may have a problem with your water pressure. There can be many different causes of low water pressure. The problem can originate at the municipal water supply, or maybe more homes have been hooked up to the water main that services your home.
A clogged, corroded, or broken water supply line can result in lower water pressure, your water pressure regulator may need to be adjusted, or the problem can be with an individual fixture.
Your first step is to measure the water pressure in your home using a pressure gauge available at your local home improvement center. The guage threads onto your outdoor faucet or to your washing machine connection. Read the pressure, then call your local water authority and find out what the pressure should be in your area. If your pressure is correct, then the problem may be a clogged fixture.
Remove the offending showerhead or faucet strainer and check to see if it is clogged by debris or hard water deposits. If so, clean out the foreign material and see if the pressure improves.
If you still think your water pressure or water flow seems unusually low, you may have a problem with your pressure regulator or your water supply line. If the water supply line is corroded or broken, the result will be lower water pressure in your home. The same is true for an improperly adjusted pressure regulator.
In either case, you will need to seek help from a plumbing professional for a water line repair or to adjust your water pressure regulator.
Your kitchen and bathtub drains seem like a convenient way to dispose of liquids and other flushable materials, but you can save yourself a lot of trouble and some expensive plumbing repairs by being careful what you put down the drain. This goes double for homes that are on septic systems. These systems are meant to treat and dispose of household wastewaters, sewage, and small amounts of paper. Anything else can cause clogged drains that will require drain cleaning.
Avoid pouring any type of caustic chemicals down the drain. Small amounts of cleaning fluids are acceptable, pesticides, caustic chemicals, and chemical drain cleaners should be avoided. Also, don’t pour anything down the drain that can harden on the walls of the pipes. Over time, these materials will lead to clogs that can be particularly difficult to remove.
These fluids include paint, oil, grease, lard, butter or margine. In addition, some homeowners make a habit of flushing all sorts of solid materials down the drain. If you have a garbage disposal, this isn’t such a problem, but even with a garbage disposal solid materials will adhere to grease, oils, and other hardened fluids lining the walls of the pipe.
Even if you have a garbage disposal, it is good practice to avoid dumping coffee grounds and eggshells down the drain. These are notorious for adhering to pipe walls and forming clogs.
Finally, your toilets were designed to flush human waste and moderate amounts of toilet paper. Don’t use them to dispose of cat litter, feminine personal products, contraceptives, or diapers. All of these items can cause an expensive and messy clog.
You can save money on your energy costs by setting the temperature on your standard holding tank type water heater a few degrees lower. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lowering your water heater temperature setting by ten degrees can save three to five percent on your water heating costs.
Most water heater come from the factory set at 140 degrees, but it is easy to lower the setting just by turning the thermostat dial down to the desired temperature. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on adjusting the thermostat on your water heater. On a gas water heater, the thermostat is usually found at the bottom of the tank near the pilot light. The thermostat on an electric water heater is usually behind a small panel and there may be two thermostats, an upper an a lower.
Most households don’t need water heated to 140 degrees and water that hot can pose a risk scalding. 120 degrees is usually a good setting for most households and it also slows the development of mineral build up and corrosion. Not only will you save money on your energy bill, but your water heater will last longer.
If you have a dishwasher, check the owner’s manual before you lower the temperature setting on your water heater. Some dishwashers require water temperatures of 130 degrees or more to clean properly. Dishwashers with heat boosters are less sensitive to lower hot water temperatures.
The one disadvantage of lowering the temperature on your water heater is that you may run out of hot water sooner. Since the water is not as hot, you will mix less cold water with the hot water to get the desired shower or bathwater temperature.
If you own or operate a commercial kitchen, restaurant, or other type of industrial or commercial food production facility you are probably familiar with grease traps. Most wastewater contains small amounts of grease and oil that are handled by septic systems or municipal waste water treatment systems.
However, the wastewater from restaurants and other commercial food production facilities contain a large quantity of grease and oil that would quickly clog their sewer lines and are too much for a septic system or municipal wastewater system to handle. A septic system would quickly fail and a municipal wastewater system would be unable to adequately treat wastewater with that much oil and grease in it.
In order to keep these waste disposal systems from becoming overwhelmed, grease traps are installed in the drain lines from kitchens and other food preparation facilities. These collect most of the grease and solid materials from the waste water and keep it out of the septic system or municipal water treatment system.
Regular grease trap pumping and cleaning is important to keep the grease trap functioning properly. Failure to keep a grease trap clean will soon result in a grease trap that is too full to work properly. Full grease traps are also clogged with solid kitchen waste that begins to rot and creates a strong odor.
Grease, oil and other materials will flow into the sewer system and clog up the pipes. Before it does that, grease will get into the municipal water treatment system which can lead to fines and penalties. Grease and oil that gets into a septic system will clog up the drain field and cause the entire system to fail. It is very expensive to replace the drain field.
The bottom line is to avoid unpleasant smells, work interruptions, fines, and expensive plumbing repairs by having regular grease trap cleaning and pumping by a professional commercial plumber or sewer septic service.
